My son was killed by gun violence. Pass Protect Illinois Communities Act to stop more deaths.

I take no situation with accountable gun possession. I’m a member of a household who used weapons to hunt after we had been youngsters. My pals are accountable gun house owners, and I do know fellow survivors who’re members of the NRA.

Nevertheless, as an advocate who witnesses the each day devastation of gun violence in our communities, and a mom who has skilled it first-hand, I stand unequivocally on the facet of commonsense laws just like the Shield Illinois Communities Act into account within the Illinois Basic Meeting.

No group in Illinois, or anyplace in America, is resistant to gun violence. This can stay true as long as we fail to make the modifications wanted to degree the enjoying discipline between the rights of accountable gun house owners and all of our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as written within the Declaration of Independence and implicit within the Structure.

It’s our civic obligation to defend these rights. We should stay with out concern of demise as a result of weapons are too simple to entry, even amongst irresponsible, abusive, felony or in any other case harmful gamers to themselves or others. We owe it to our youngsters to take this motion now to guard their futures. HB5855 should move.

My son Ricky is useless, however now I act in his reminiscence. He was murdered in Logan Sq. on Aug. 3, 2012. He was shot with a semi-automatic gun attempting to park in entrance of his condo. He was 24 years outdated.

Honor your youngsters whereas they’re nonetheless alive. Assist the Shield Illinois Communities Act. I honor Ricky with motion.

Maria Pike, Pilsen

Unvaccinated troops at combating drawback

The science-guided medical institution urges everybody to defend in opposition to COVID-19 by getting vaccinated. The authorities say practically all COVID-19 deaths consequence from failure to get vaccinated, but the hard-core political proper insists on refusing to be vaccinated and pays with their lives.

That doctrinaire avoidance of vaccination has now resulted in active-duty members of the army not being required to be so protected, though recruits routinely are required to get photographs in opposition to cholera, typhoid and tetanus. This craziness doubtlessly has made our army susceptible to mini-epidemics within the ranks.

Think about considered one of our army models having to face down at a crucial second when dealing with an enemy as a result of, allow us to presume, the unvaccinated half of the squad or battalion was too sick to battle, leaving the enemy victorious by default.

Would right-wing hard-heads merely shrug at this defeat of the weakened unit? Earlier than a COVID-19 vaccine was developed, we noticed whole cruise ships stored offshore as a result of the virus ran amok among the many passengers. That’s the potential drawback right-wing ideology has foisted on widespread sense and on our army.

Who would ever have thought such kooky QAnon notions would overrule logic? But extra proof that as a nation, we appear to be coming aside on the seams.

Ted Z. Manuel, Hyde Park

New West Facet properties too expensive for residents

Thanks for the article on new residence building within the Humboldt Park neighborhood on this week’s Solar-Instances. Having grown up in that neighborhood, at California and Armitage, I can inform you that these properties usually are not in Humboldt Park however in north Garfield Park.

The developer, Tim Swanson, might want consumers to attach with the cachet of gentrifying Humboldt Park, however when you take a look at a map of the world, you’ll find Laura S. Ward Elementary is three blocks from Garfield Park.

Additionally, whereas new building in Humboldt Park will appeal to consumers who can afford a $375,000 price ticket, residents of Garfield Park can not contact that worth and can wrestle to afford even the $150,000 to $245,000 quoted in your article.

This isn’t reasonably priced housing, not matter what number of space residents are employed or what the developer says about “constructing generational wealth by means of residence possession.” Whereas it’s thrilling that new building is lastly coming to the West Facet, what the developer and the town contemplate “reasonably priced housing” is out of contact with space residents. Simply sayin’.

Nancy Alexander, Oak Park

Restaurant employees within the cash

Between suggestions and hourly charges, Illinoisans can be assured wages of $13 an hour. Completely no cause for tipping anybody who earns that a lot cash. Manufacturing unit employees who make the identical cash don’t get suggestions, so why ought to restaurant employees that don’t work practically as laborious? I don’t eat out a lot anyway as a result of one restaurant meal prices as a lot as every week of home-cooked meals.

On high of outrageous menu costs, suggestions are added. However no extra since they’re within the cash now due to Illinois’ minimal wage invoice. Thanks, J.B. Pritzker.

Mike Zaczek, Orland Park